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HomeKit

HomeKit is Apple’s home automation protocol. If an appliance supports HomeKit, you can control all of its functions using the Home app on the iPhone or just using Siri on your iPhone or HomePod. When it works, it’s truly magical. You can just ask Siri to turn off the lights or dim them. If you’ve connected a smart plug to your espresso machine, you can just ask Siri to make you a cup of coffee and it will start the machine on its own!

On October 28, developer Khaos Tian discovered multiple bugs with Apple’s HomeKit which allowed unauthorized access to anyone connected with the service. The developer claimed that even though he made his concerns known to Apple on the same day, Apple didn’t fix the bug all through November, and that the subsequent iOS update only worsened things.

Earlier in the year, IKEA had announced that it would be bringing HomeKit integration to its Tradfri range of lighting systems by fall 2017. Now, the company has started rolling out a software update to its Wireless hub that enables HomeKit integration on its products.

HomeKit-enabled devices and accessories are so convenient and flexible, but a major downside is usually the price. That even includes smart bulbs – Philips Hue bulbs are often $50 per bulb, which adds up quickly. Koogeek thinks it has a solution to this problem.

Smart home accessories get more and more popular by the day. With Apple becoming increasingly dedicated to smart homes and HomeKit, new devices keep coming out to support it. HomeKit allows smart home devices to integrate directly with iOS so you can control them with the Home app, through Siri, or with Control Center. This also enables notifications for certain devices like security cameras. Many HomeKit-enabled accessories are set to come out this year in 2017, and some already debuted. Here are our picks for the best ones so far.

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